400 years ago, the first ruler of the Romanov family, Mikhail Fedorovich, reigned in Russia. His ascension to the throne marked the end of the Russian turmoil, and his descendants were to rule the state for another three centuries, expanding the borders and strengthening the power of the country, which, thanks to them, became an empire. We remember this date with the associate professor of the Russian State University for the Humanities, head of the department of auxiliary historical disciplines, author of the books “The Romanovs. History of the dynasty”, “Genealogy of the Romanovs. 1613-2001" and many others by Evgeny Pchelov.
- Evgeny Vladimirovich, where did the Romanov family come from?
The Romanovs are an old family of the Moscow boyars, whose origins date back to the first half of the 14th century, when the earliest ancestor of the Romanovs lived - Andrei Ivanovich Kobyla, who served Semyon the Proud, the eldest son of Ivan Kalita. Thus, the Romanovs are connected with the family of the Great Moscow princes almost from the very beginning of this dynasty, this, one might say, is the “root” family of the Moscow aristocracy. The earlier ancestors of the Romanovs, before Andrei Kobyla, are unknown to chronicle sources. Much later, in the 17th - 18th centuries, when the Romanovs were in power, a legend arose about their foreign origin, and this legend was created not by the Romanovs themselves, but by their relatives, i.e. descendants of clans of the same root as the Romanovs - the Kolychevs, Sheremetevs, and others. from the Prussian land, once inhabited by the Prussians - one of the Baltic tribes. His name was allegedly Glanda Kambila, and in Russia he became Ivan Kobyla, the father of the same Andrei who is known at the court of Semyon the Proud. It is clear that Glanda Kambila is an absolutely artificial name, distorted from Ivan Kobyla. Such legends about departures of ancestors from other countries were common among the Russian nobility. Of course, this legend has no real basis.
- How did they become Romanovs?
The descendants of the grandson of Fyodor Koshka, Zakhary Ivanovich, were nicknamed the Zakharyins, his son, Yuri, was the father of Roman Yuryevich Zakharyin, and already on behalf of Roman, the surname Romanovs was formed. In fact, these were all generic nicknames, derived from patronymics and grandfathers. So the surname of the Romanovs has a rather traditional origin for Russian surnames.
- Were the Romanovs related to the Rurik dynasty?
They intermarried with the dynasties of the Tver and Serpukhov princes, and through the branch of the Serpukhov princes, they were directly related to the Moscow Rurikovichs. Ivan III was the great-great-grandson of Fyodor Koshka by his mother, i.e. starting with him, the Moscow Rurikoviches were descendants of Andrei Kobyla, but the descendants of Kobyla, the Romanovs, were not descendants of the family of Moscow princes. AT 1547 . the first Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible married Anastasia Romanovna Zakharyina-Yuryeva, the daughter of Roman Yuryevich Zakharyin, who is often and incorrectly called a boyar, although he did not have this rank. From the marriage with Anastasia Romanovna, Ivan the Terrible had several children, including Tsarevich Ivan, who died in a quarrel with his father in 1581 ., and Fedor, who became king in 1584 . Fyodor Ioannovich was the last of the dynasty of Moscow tsars - Rurikovich. His uncle Nikita Romanovich, brother of Anastasia, enjoyed great fame at the court of Ivan the Terrible, Nikita's son, Fyodor, later became the Moscow Patriarch Filaret, and his grandson, Mikhail, was the first tsar from the new dynasty, elected to the throne in 1613
- Were there other pretenders to the throne in 1613?
It is known that in that year, at the Zemsky Sobor, which was supposed to choose a new king, the names of several applicants sounded. The most authoritative boyar at that time was Prince Fyodor Ivanovich Mstislavsky, who headed the Seven Boyars. He was a distant descendant of Ivan III through his daughter, i.e. was a royal relative. According to sources, the leaders of the zemstvo militia, Prince Dmitry Timofeevich Trubetskoy (who was heavily spent during the Zemsky Sobor) and Prince Dmitry Mikhailovich Pozharsky, also claimed the throne. There were other notable representatives of the Russian aristocracy.
- Why was Mikhail Fedorovich elected?
Of course, Mikhail Fedorovich was a very young man, he could be controlled, and he stood outside the court factions fighting for power. But the main thing is the family connection of Mikhail Fedorovich and the Romanovs with Tsar Fedor Ivanovich, the son of Ivan the Terrible. Fedor Ivanovich was perceived at that moment as if the last "legitimate" Moscow tsar, the last representative of the real royal "root". His personality and reign were idealized, as always happens after the era of bloody crimes, and the return to the interrupted tradition, as it were, restored those quiet and calm times. No wonder the Zemstvo militia minted coins with the name of Fyodor Ivanovich, by that time he had already died for 15 years. Mikhail Fedorovich was the nephew of Tsar Fedor - he was perceived as a kind of "reincarnation" of Fedor, a continuation of his era. And although the Romanovs did not have a direct relationship with the Rurikovichs, it was precisely their inherent and family ties through marriages that were of great importance. The direct descendants of the Rurikovichs, whether they were the Pozharsky princes or the Vorotynsky princes, were not perceived as part of the royal family, but only as subjects of the royal dynasty, in their status exalted above their peers. That is why the Romanovs turned out to be the closest relatives of the last of the Moscow Rurikovichs. Mikhail Fedorovich himself did not take any part in the work of the Zemsky Sobor and found out about his decision when an embassy came to him with an invitation to the throne. It must be said that he, and especially his mother, nun Martha, stubbornly refused such an honor. But then, succumbing to persuasion, they nevertheless agreed. Thus began the reign of a new dynasty - the Romanovs.
- Who are the most famous representatives of the Romanov dynasty today? What are they doing?
Now the Romanov family, let's talk about the family, is not very numerous. Representatives of the generation of the 1920s, the first generation of the Romanovs who were born in exile, are still alive. The oldest ones today are Nikolai Romanovich, who lives in Switzerland, Andrei Andreevich, who lives in the USA, and Dimitri Romanovich, who lives in Denmark. The first two recently turned 90 years old. All of them repeatedly came to Russia. Together with their younger relatives and some descendants of the Romanovs along the female lines (like Prince Michael of Kent, for example), they make up the public organization "Association of members of the Romanov clan." There is also a fund for helping the Romanovs for Russia, which is headed by Dimitri Romanovich. However, the activities of the "Association" in Russia, at least, are not felt too strongly. Among the members of the association there are also very young people, like Rostislav Rostislavich Romanov, for example. A notable figure is a descendant of Alexander II from his second, morganatic marriage, His Serene Highness Prince Georgy Alexandrovich Yuryevsky. He lives in Switzerland and in St. Petersburg, where he often visits. There is a family of the late Prince Vladimir Kirillovich - his daughter Maria Vladimirovna and her son from marriage with the Prussian prince Georgy Mikhailovich. This family considers themselves legitimate contenders for the throne, does not recognize all the other Romanovs and behaves accordingly. Maria Vladimirovna makes "official visits", favors the nobility and orders of old Russia, and in every possible way presents herself as the "Head of the Russian Imperial House". It is clear that this activity has a very definite ideological and political connotation. The family of Vladimir Kirillovich is seeking for themselves some kind of special legal status in Russia, the rights to which are very convincingly questioned by many. There are other descendants of the Romanovs, more or less noticeable, such as Poul Edward Larsen, who now calls himself Pavel Eduardovich Kulikovsky - the great-grandson of Nicholas II's sister, Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna. He frequently appears at numerous events and presentations as a guest. But as such, almost none of the Romanovs and their descendants conduct meaningful and useful activities in Russia.
Perhaps the only exception is Olga Nikolaevna Kulikovskaya-Romanova. By her origin, she does not belong to the Romanov family, but is the widow of Nicholas II's own nephew, Tikhon Nikolaevich Kulikovsky-Romanov, the eldest son of the already mentioned Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna. I must say that her activities in Russia, unlike her other relatives, are extremely active and productive. Olga Nikolaevna heads the V.Kn. Olga Alexandrovna, which was founded by her together with her late husband Tikhon Nikolaevich, who lived in Canada. Now Olga Nikolaevna spends even more time in Russia than in Canada. The Foundation has carried out a huge charitable work, over the years of its existence, having provided real assistance to many medical and social institutions in Russia, the Solovetsky Monastery, etc., up to individual persons in need of such assistance. In recent years, Olga Nikolaevna has been carrying out a great cultural activity, regularly organizing exhibitions of artworks by Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna in different cities of the country, who was engaged in painting a lot and fruitfully. This side of the history of the royal family was completely unknown until recently. Now exhibitions of the works of the Grand Duchess were held not only in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow and the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, but also in centers as remote from the capitals as Tyumen or Vladivostok. Olga Nikolaevna traveled almost all over Russia, she is well known in many parts of our country. Of course, she is a completely unique person, literally charging with her energy everyone who had to deal with her. Her fate is very interesting - after all, before World War II, she studied at the Mariinsky Don Institute, formed before the revolution in Novocherkassk, following the example of the famous Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens, and in exile located in the Serbian city of Belaya Tserkov. The excellent upbringing in a Russian family of emigrants of the first wave and education in this educational institution could not but affect the personality of Olga Nikolaevna herself, she told me a lot about this period of her biography. She knew, of course, the Romanovs of the older generation, for example, the daughter of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich, the famous poet K.R. - Princess Vera Konstantinovna, with whom she and Tikhon Nikolaevich had friendly relations.
Each page of history has its own lessons for future generations. How does the history of the Romanovs teach us a lesson?
I believe that the most important thing that the Romanovs did for Russia is the emergence of the Russian Empire, a great European power with great culture and science. If they know Russia abroad (namely Russia, not the Soviet Union), then by the names of those people who lived and worked during this period. It can be said that it was under the Romanovs that Russia stood on a par with the leading world powers, and absolutely on an equal footing. It was one of the highest rises of our country in the entire history of its diverse existence. And the Romanovs played a very important role in this, for which we can be sincerely grateful to them.
In the Kremlin, in the Armory Chamber, two plain-looking sabers are kept. But, despite the unpresentable appearance, they are priceless relics of Russia. These sabers were the military weapons of Minin and Pozharsky. In 1612, Kuzma Minin, a merchant from Nizhny Novgorod, called on the Russian people to fight the Polish invaders, and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky led the people's militia.
In the autumn of the same year, the Mother See was cleared of Polish lords. After that, the Zemsky Sobor met, which elected Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov to the throne. The Romanov family itself came from the family of Tsarina Anastasia (the first wife of Ivan the Terrible). The people loved her and revered her for her kindness and meekness. The formidable king himself loved her and was very worried after the death of his wife.
All this was the reason that the representatives of the Russian lands, who gathered at the Zemsky Sobor, made a choice in favor of a 16-year-old boy who was a descendant of Anastasia. This was announced to him in the Ipatiev Monastery in the city of Kostroma. Thus began the reign of the Romanov dynasty. It lasted 300 years and turned the Russian land into a huge and great power.
Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich (1613-1645)
Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (1645-1676)
Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich (1676-1682)
Triarchy and Princess Sofia Alekseevna (1682-1689)
Peter I the Great (1689-1725)
The tsar, and then the emperor Peter I, is considered a great reformer who turned the Muscovite kingdom into the Russian Empire. His merits include the defeat of the Swedes, access to the Baltic Sea, the construction of St. Petersburg, the rapid growth of the metallurgical industry. The state administration, the judiciary and the education system were transformed. In 1721, the Russian tsar began to be called the emperor, and the country the empire.
Read more in the article Peter I Romanov.
Empress Catherine I (1725-1727)
Emperor Peter II (1727-1730)
Empress Anna Ioannovna (1730-1740)
Ivan VI and the Brunswick family (1740-1741)
Empress Elizabeth (1741-1761)
Emperor Peter III (1761-1762)
Empress Catherine II the Great (1762-1796)
Emperor Paul I (1796-1801)
Emperor Alexander I (1801-1825)
Emperor Nicholas I (1825-1855)
Emperor Alexander II the Liberator (1855-1881)
Emperor Alexander III the Peacemaker (1881-1894)
Emperor Nicholas II (1894-1917)
Nicholas II became the last emperor of the Romanov dynasty. Under him, the Khodynka tragedy and Bloody Sunday took place. The Russo-Japanese War was extremely unsuccessful. At the same time, the economy of the Russian Empire was on the rise. At its peak, the First World War began, ending with a revolution and the abdication of the emperor from the throne. The renunciation manifesto was signed on March 2, 1917. Nicholas II abdicated in favor of his brother Mikhail, but he also renounced power.
Leonid Druzhnikov
1. INTRODUCTION
FROM THE HISTORY OF THE DYNASTY OF THE ROMANOV FAMILY
THE LAST OF THE ROMANOV DYNASTY
PERSONALITY OF NICHOLAS II
CHILDREN OF ALEXAEDRA AND NICHOLAS
DEATH OF THE LAST OF THE ROMANOV DYNASTY
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. INTRODUCTION
The history of the Romanov family has been documented since the middle of the 14th century, from the boyar of the Grand Duke of Moscow Simeon Gordoy - Andrei Ivanovich Kobyla, who, like many boyars in the medieval Moscow state, played a significant role in government.
Kobyla had five sons, the youngest of whom, Fedor Andreevich, bore the nickname "Cat".
According to Russian historians, “Mare”, “Koshka” and many other Russian surnames, including noble ones, came from nicknames that arose spontaneously, under the influence of various random associations, which are difficult, and most often impossible, to reconstruct.
Fedor Koshka, in turn, served the Grand Duke of Moscow Dmitry Donskoy, who, speaking in 1380 on the famous victorious campaign against the Tatars on Kulikovo Field, left Koshka to rule Moscow instead of himself: “Observe the city of Moscow and protect the Grand Duchess and all his family” .
The descendants of Fyodor Koshka occupied a strong position at the Moscow court and often became related to members of the Rurik dynasty then ruling in Russia.
By the names of men from the family of Fedor Koshka, in fact, by patronymic, the descending branches of the family were called. Therefore, the descendants bore different surnames, until finally one of them - the boyar Roman Yuryevich Zakharyin - occupied such an important position that all his descendants began to be called Romanovs.
And after the daughter of Roman Yuryevich - Anastasia - became the wife of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, the surname "Romanovs" became unchanged for all members of this family, who played an outstanding role in the history of Russia and many other countries.
2. FROM THE HISTORY OF THE DYNASTY OF THE ROMANOV FAMILY
The Romanovs, a boyar family, from 1613 - the royal, and from 1721 - the imperial dynasty in Russia, which ruled until February 1917. The documented ancestor of the Romanovs was Andrei Ivanovich Kobyla, the boyar of the Moscow princes of the middle of the 14th century. The ancestors of the Romanovs before the beginning of the 16th century. were called Koshkins (from the nickname of the 5th son of Andrei Ivanovich - Fedor Koshka), then Zakharyins. The rise of the Zakharyins dates back to the 2nd third of the 16th century. and is associated with the marriage of Ivan IV to the daughter of Roman Yurievich - Anastasia (died in 1560). The ancestor of the Romanovs was the 3rd son of Roman - Nikita Romanovich (died in 1586) - a boyar from 1562, an active participant in the Livonian War and many diplomatic negotiations; after the death of Ivan IV, he headed the regency council (until the end of 1584). Of his sons, the most famous are Fedor (see Filaret) and Ivan (died in 1640) - a boyar since 1605, was a member of the government of the so-called "Seven Boyars"; after the accession of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov - the son of Filaret and nephew Ivan, the latter and his son Nikita (see Romanov N.I.) enjoyed very great influence at court. In 1598, with the death of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich, the Rurik dynasty came to an end. In preparation for the election of a new tsar, Fedor Nikitich Romanov was named as a possible candidate for the tsar's throne. Under Boris Godunov, the Romanovs fell into disgrace (1600) and their exile (1601) to Beloozero, Pelym, Yarensk and other places far from Moscow, and Fedor was tonsured a monk under the name Filaret. The new rise of the Romanovs began in the reign of I "False Dmitry I. In the Tushino camp II" False Dmitry II, Filaret was named the Russian patriarch.
At the Zemsky Sobor of 1613, Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, the son of Fyodor (Filaret) Romanov, was elected Russian Tsar (reigned 1613-1645). Michael was a man of small mind, indecisive and, moreover, painful. The main role in governing the country was played by his father, Patriarch Filaret (until his death in 1633). During the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich (1645-76), transformations began in the social and political fields. Alexey himself participated in government, was an educated person for his time. He was succeeded by Fedor Alekseevich, sickly and far from state affairs (reigned in 1676-1682); then his brother the Great Peter I the Great (1682-1725) became king, during whose reign the largest reforms were carried out in Russia, and a successful foreign policy made it one of the strongest countries in Europe. In 1721 Russia became an empire, and Peter I became the first Emperor of All Russia. By Peter's decree of February 5, 1722, on the succession to the throne (confirmed in 1731 and 1761), the emperor appointed himself a successor from among the members of the imperial family. Peter I did not have time to appoint a successor, and after his death, his wife Catherine I Alekseevna (1725-27) took the throne. The son of Peter I - Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich was executed on June 26, 1718 for actively opposing the reforms. The son of Alexei Petrovich - Peter II Alekseevich occupied the throne from 1727 to 1730. With his death in 1730, the Romanov dynasty in the direct male generation was cut short. In 1730-40, the granddaughter of Alexei Mikhailovich, the niece of Peter I, Anna Ivanovna, ruled, and from 1741, the daughter of Peter I, Elizaveta Petrovna, with whose death in 1761 the Romanov dynasty was stopped along the female line. However, the surname Romanovs was carried by representatives of the Holstein-Gottorp dynasty: Peter III (son of the Duke of Holstein Friedrich Karl and Anna, daughter of Peter I), who ruled in 1761-62, his wife Catherine II, nee Princess of Anhalt-Zerbst, who ruled in 1762-96, their son Paul I (1796-1801) and his descendants. Catherine II, Paul I, Alexander I (1801-25), Nicholas I (1825-55), in the conditions of the development of capitalist relations, tried in every possible way to preserve the feudal system with an absolute monarchy, and brutally suppressed the revolutionary liberation movement. Alexander II (1855-81), son of Nicholas I, was forced to abolish serfdom in 1861. However, in the hands of the nobility, the most important posts in the government, the state apparatus and the army were practically preserved. Desiring to continue to hold power, the Romanovs, especially Alexander III (1881-94) and Nicholas II (1894-1917), pursued a reactionary course in domestic and foreign policy. Among the many great princes from the Romanov dynasty, who occupied the highest positions in the army and in the state apparatus, Nikolai Nikolaevich (the Elder) (1831-91), Mikhail Nikolaevich (1832-1909), Sergei Alexandrovich (1857-1905) and Nikolai Nikolaevich (Younger) (1856-1929).
3. THE LAST OF THE ROMANOV DYNASTY
Any Orthodox Christian often has to see the icons of the martyrs, of which there are many in our Church, and hear about their deeds that exceed human nature. But how often do we know how these people lived? How was their life before their martyrdom? What filled their holidays and weekdays? Were they great prayer books and ascetics, or just ordinary people like the rest of us? What filled and warmed their souls and hearts so much that at a fateful moment they confessed their faith with blood and sealed its truth with the loss of their temporary life?
Small surviving photo albums slightly open the veil of this mystery, as they allow you to see with your own eyes the moments of the personal life of not one martyr, but the whole family - the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers of the Romanovs.
The personal life of the last Russian Sovereign Emperor Nicholas II and his family was carefully hidden from prying eyes. Sincerely and invariably keeping the commandments of Christ, living according to them not for show, but with their hearts, the Sovereign and Empress carefully avoided everything evil and unclean that only surrounds all those in power, finding for themselves endless joy and rest in their family, arranged according to the word of Christ like a small Church, where respect, understanding and mutual love reigned until the last moments of their lives. In the same way, their children, hidden by parental love from the corrupting influence of time and brought up in the spirit of Orthodoxy from birth, did not find greater joy for themselves than common family meetings, walks or holidays. Being deprived of the opportunity to be near their royal parents incessantly, they especially appreciated and cherished those days, and sometimes just minutes, that they could spend together with their dearly beloved father and mother.
PERSONALITY OF NICHOLAS II
Nicholas II (Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov) (05/19/1868 - 07/17/1918), Russian tsar, Russian emperor, martyr, son of Tsar Alexander III. Nicholas II was brought up and educated under the personal guidance of his father, on a traditional religious basis, in Spartan conditions. The subjects were taught by prominent Russian scientists K.P. Pobedonostsev, N. N. Beketov, N. N. Obruchev, M. I. Dragomirov and others. Much attention was paid to the military training of the future tsar.
Nicholas II ascended the throne at the age of 26, earlier than expected, as a result of the premature death of his father. Nicholas II managed to quickly recover from the initial confusion and began to pursue an independent policy, which caused dissatisfaction with part of his entourage, who hoped to influence the young tsar. The basis of the state policy of Nicholas II was the continuation of the aspirations of his father to give Russia more internal unity by asserting the Russian elements of the country.
In his first address to the people, Nikolai Alexandrovich announced that from now on, having imbued with the precepts of his deceased parent, he accepts a sacred vow before the face of the Almighty to always have as a single goal the peaceful prosperity, power and glory of dear Russia and the arrangement of the happiness of all His loyal subjects . In an address to foreign countries, Nicholas II declared that will devote all its cares to the development of Russia's internal well-being and will not deviate in anything from the completely peace-loving, firm and straightforward policy that has so powerfully contributed to the general calm, while Russia will continue to see in respect for law and legal order the best guarantee of the security of the state.
The model of a ruler for Nicholas II was Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, who carefully preserved the traditions of antiquity.
In addition to a strong will and a brilliant education, Nikolai possessed all the natural qualities necessary for state activity, above all, a huge ability to work. If necessary, he could work from morning until late at night, studying the numerous documents and materials received in his name. (By the way, he also willingly engaged in physical labor - sawing firewood, removing snow, etc.) Possessing a lively mind and a broad outlook, the king quickly grasped the essence of the issues under consideration. The king had an exceptional memory for faces and events. He remembered by sight most of the people he had to deal with, and there were thousands of such people.
However, the time in which Nicholas II fell to reign was very different from the era of the first Romanovs. If then the folk foundations and traditions served as a unifying banner of a society that was revered by both the common people and the ruling class, then to n. 20th century Russian foundations and traditions become the object of denial on the part of an educated society. A significant part of the ruling stratum and intelligentsia rejects the path of following Russian foundations, traditions and ideals, many of which they consider obsolete and ignorant. Russia's right to its own path is not recognized. Attempts are being made to impose on it an alien model of development - either Western European liberalism or Western European Marxism.
The reign of Nicholas II is the most dynamic period in the growth of the Russian people in its entire history. In less than a quarter of a century, the population of Russia has increased by 62 million people. The economy grew rapidly. Between 1885 and 1913, industrial output increased fivefold, exceeding the rate of industrial growth in the most developed countries of the world. The Great Siberian Railway was built, in addition, 2 thousand km of railways were built annually. The national income of Russia, according to the most underestimated calculations, has grown from 8 billion rubles. in 1894 to 22-24 billion in 1914, that is, almost three times. The average per capita income of Russian people has doubled. The incomes of workers in industry grew at a particularly high rate. For a quarter of a century, they have grown at least three times. The total expenditure on the share of public education and culture increased by 8 times, more than twice the expenditure on education in France and one and a half times - in England.
PERSONALITY OF ALEXANDRA FEDEROVNA (WIFE OF NICHOLAS II)
She was born in Darmstadt (Germany) in 1872. She was baptized on July 1, 1872 according to the Lutheran rite. The name given to her consisted of her mother's name (Alice) and the four names of her aunts. The godparents were: Edward, Prince of Wales (future King Edward VII), Tsarevich Alexander Alexandrovich (future Emperor Alexander III) with his wife, Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna, the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria, Princess Beatrice, Augusta von Hesse-Kassel, Duchess of Cambridge and Maria Anna , Princess of Prussia.
In 1878, a diphtheria epidemic spread in Hesse. Alice's mother and her younger sister May died from her, after which Alice lived most of the time in the UK at Balmoral Castle and Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Alice was considered the favorite granddaughter of Queen Victoria, who called her Sunny (“Sunny”).
In June 1884, at the age of 12, Alice visited Russia for the first time, when her older sister Ella (in Orthodoxy - Elizaveta Feodorovna) was married to Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich. For the second time, she arrived in Russia in January 1889 at the invitation of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich. After staying in the Sergievsky Palace (Petersburg) for six weeks, the princess met and attracted the special attention of the heir to Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich.
March 1892, Alice's father, Duke Ludwig IV, died.
In the early 1890s, the marriage of Alice and Tsarevich Nicholas was opposed by the latter's parents, who hoped for his marriage to Helen Louise Henrietta, daughter of Louis-Philippe, Count of Paris. A key role in arranging Alice's marriage with Nikolai Alexandrovich was played by the efforts of her sister, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, and the latter's husband, through whom the lovers corresponded. The position of Emperor Alexander and his wife changed due to the perseverance of the crown prince and the deteriorating health of the emperor; On April 6, 1894, the engagement of the Tsarevich and Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt was announced by a manifesto. The following months, Alice studied the basics of Orthodoxy under the guidance of the court protopresbyter John Yanyshev and the Russian language with the teacher E. A. Schneider. On October 10 (22), 1894, she arrived in the Crimea, in Livadia, where she stayed with the imperial family until the day of the death of Emperor Alexander III - October 20. On October 21 (November 2), 1894, she accepted Orthodoxy there through chrismation with the name Alexander and patronymic Fedorovna (Feodorovna).
CHILDREN OF ALEXAEDRA AND NICHOLAS
The four daughters of Nikolai and Alexandra were born beautiful, healthy, real princesses: daddy's favorite romantic Olga, serious beyond her years Tatyana, generous Maria and funny little Anastasia.
Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna Romanova.
She was born in November 1895. Olga became the first child in the family of Nicholas II. Parents could not get enough of the appearance of the child. Olga Nikolaevna Romanova distinguished herself by her abilities in the study of sciences, she loved solitude and books. The Grand Duchess was very smart, she had creative abilities. Olga behaved with everyone simply and naturally. The princess was surprisingly responsive, sincere and generous. The first daughter of Alexandra Fedorovna Romanova inherited facial features, posture, as well as golden hair from her mother. From Nikolai Alexandrovich, the daughter inherited the inner world. Olga, like her father, had an amazingly pure Christian soul. The princess was distinguished by an innate sense of justice, did not like lies.
Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna was a typical good Russian girl with a big soul. She made an impression on those around her with her tenderness, with her enchanting sweet treatment of everyone. She behaved with everyone evenly, calmly and amazingly simply and naturally. She did not like housekeeping, but she loved solitude and books. She was developed and very well-read; She had an aptitude for the arts: she played the piano, sang, and studied singing in Petrograd, drawing well. She was very modest and did not like luxury.
Olga Nikolaevna was remarkably smart and capable, and teaching was a joke to her, which is why she was sometimes lazy. Her characteristic features were a strong will and an incorruptible honesty and directness, in which She was like a Mother. She had these wonderful qualities from childhood, but as a child Olga Nikolaevna was often stubborn, disobedient and very quick-tempered; afterwards she knew how to restrain herself. She had wonderful blond hair, large blue eyes and a marvelous complexion, a slightly upturned nose, resembling the Sovereign.
Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna Romanova.
She was born on June 11, 1897, and was the second child in the Romanov couple. Like Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, Tatyana outwardly resembled her mother, but her character was paternal. Tatyana Nikolaevna Romanova was less emotional than her sister. Tatyana's eyes were similar to the eyes of the Empress, the figure was graceful, and the color of blue eyes harmoniously combined with brown hair. Tatyana was rarely naughty, and had amazing, according to contemporaries, self-control. Tatyana Nikolaevna had a highly developed sense of duty and a penchant for order in everything. Due to her mother's illness, Tatyana Romanova often managed the household, and this did not burden the Grand Duchess in any way. She loved needlework, embroidered and sewed well. The princess was of sound mind. In cases requiring decisive action, she always remained herself.
Grand Duchess Tatyana Nikolaevna was just as charming as her older sister, but in her own way. She was often called proud, but I did not know anyone who would have been less proud than her. The same thing happened to her as to Her Majesty. Her shyness and restraint were taken for arrogance, but as soon as you got to know Her better and win Her trust, the restraint disappeared and the real Tatyana Nikolaevna appeared before you. She had a poetic nature, longed for true friendship. His Majesty dearly loved the second Daughter, and the Sisters joked that if you need to turn to the Sovereign with some kind of request, then "Tatyana should ask Papa to let us do this." Very tall, thin as a reed, She was endowed with a graceful cameo profile and brown hair. She was fresh, fragile and pure as a rose.
Maria Nikolaevna Romanova.
She was born on June 27, 1899. She became the third child of the Emperor and Empress. Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna Romanova was a typical Russian girl. She was characterized by good nature, gaiety, and affability. Maria had a beautiful appearance and vitality. According to the memoirs of some of her contemporaries, she was very similar to her grandfather Alexander III. Maria Nikolaevna loved her parents very much. She was strongly attached to them, much more than the rest of the children of the royal couple. The fact is that she was too small for the older daughters (Olga and Tatiana), and too old for the younger children (Anastasia and Alexei) of Nicholas II.
The successes of the Grand Duchess were average. Like the other girls, she was capable of languages, but she only fluently mastered English (which she constantly communicated with her parents) and Russian - the girls spoke it among themselves. Not without difficulty, Gilliard managed to learn her French at a level "quite tolerable", but no more. German - despite all the efforts of Fraulein Schneider - remained undeveloped.
Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova.
She was born on June 18, 1901. The sovereign had been waiting for an heir for a long time, and when the daughter turned out to be the long-awaited fourth child, he was saddened. Soon the sadness passed, and the Emperor loved the fourth daughter, no less than his other children.
They were expecting a boy, but a girl was born. Anastasia Romanova, in her agility, could give odds to any boy. Anastasia Nikolaevna wore simple clothes inherited from her older sisters. The bedroom of the fourth daughter was not richly cleaned. Necessarily every morning Anastasia Nikolaevna took a cold shower. It was not easy to keep an eye on Princess Anastasia. As a child, she was very nimble. She liked to climb, where not getting, to hide. When she was a child, Grand Duchess Anastasia loved to play pranks, as well as to make others laugh. In addition to gaiety, Anastasia reflected such character traits as wit, courage and observation.
Like other children of the emperor, Anastasia was educated at home. Education began at the age of eight, the program included French, English and German, history, geography, the law of God, natural sciences, drawing, grammar, arithmetic, as well as dance and music. Anastasia did not differ in diligence in her studies, she could not stand grammar, she wrote with terrifying mistakes, and called arithmetic with childlike immediacy "svin". English teacher Sydney Gibbs recalled that once she tried to bribe him with a bouquet of flowers to increase her grade, and after he refused, she gave these flowers to a Russian teacher, Pyotr Vasilyevich Petrov.
During the war, the empress gave many of the palace rooms for hospital premises. The older sisters Olga and Tatyana, together with their mother, became sisters of mercy; Maria and Anastasia, being too young for such hard work, became patronesses of the hospital. Both sisters gave their own money to buy medicines, read aloud to the wounded, knitted things for them, played cards and checkers, wrote letters home under their dictation, and in the evenings entertained them with telephone conversations, sewed linen, prepared bandages and lint.
Tsarevich Alexei was the fourth child in the family of Nicholas II.
Alexei was a long-awaited child. From the first days of his reign, Nicholas II dreamed of an heir. The Lord sent only daughters to the emperor. Tsesarevich Alexei was born on August 12, 1904. The heir to the Russian throne was born a year after the Sarov celebrations. The entire royal family fervently prayed for the birth of a boy. Tsarevich Alexei inherited all the best from his father and mother. Parents loved the heir very much, he answered them with great reciprocity. The father was a real idol for Alexei Nikolaevich. The young prince tried to imitate him in everything. The royal couple did not even think about how to name the newborn prince. Nicholas II had long wanted to name his future heir Alexei. The tsar said that "it's time to break the line of Alexandrov and Nikolaev." Also, Nicholas II was sympathetic to the personality of Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov, and the emperor wanted to name his son in honor of the great ancestor.
On the mother's side, Alexei inherited hemophilia, which was carried by some of the daughters and granddaughters of the English Queen Victoria.
The heir Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolayevich was a boy of 14 years old, intelligent, observant, receptive, affectionate, cheerful. He was lazy and did not particularly like books. He combined the features of his father and mother: he inherited the simplicity of his father, was alien to arrogance, arrogance, but had his own will and obeyed only his father. His mother wanted to, but could not be strict with him. His teacher Bitner says of him: "He had a great will and would never submit to any woman." He was very disciplined, withdrawn and very patient. Undoubtedly, the disease left its mark on him and developed these traits in him. He did not like court etiquette, he liked to be with the soldiers and learned their language, using in his diary purely folk expressions he had overheard. His stinginess reminded him of his mother: he did not like to spend his money and collected various abandoned things: nails, lead paper, ropes, etc.
During the First World War, Alexei, who was the chief of several regiments and chieftain of all Cossack troops, visited the army with his father, awarded distinguished fighters, etc. He was awarded the silver St. George medal of the 4th degree.
Romanov emperor nikolai burial
7. DEATH OF THE LAST OF THE ROMANOV DYNASTY
After the Bolshevik Revolution, the tsar and his family were placed under house arrest. Members of the imperial family were executed on July 17, 1918, during the Civil War, because the Bolsheviks feared that whites might unite around the living tsar.
The night of July 16-17, 1918 was fatal for the last Romanovs. That night, the former Tsar Nicholas II, his wife, the former Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, their children, 14-year-old Alexei, daughters, Olga (22 years old), Tatyana (20 years old), Maria (18 years old) and Anastasia (16 years old), as well as the doctor Botkin E.S., the maid A. Demidova, the cook Kharitonov and the footman who were with them, were shot in the basement of the House of Special Purpose (the former house of engineer Ipatiev) in Yekaterinburg. At the same time, the bodies of those shot in a car were taken outside the city and, not far from the village of Koptyaki, were dumped into an old mine.
But the fear that the whites approaching Yekaterinburg would find the corpses and turn them into "holy relics" forced a reburial. The next day, the executed were taken out of the mine, again loaded onto a car, which moved along a dead road into the forest. In a swampy place, the car stalled, and then, after trying to burn the corpses, they decided to bury them right on the road. The grave was filled and leveled.
So, more than 80 years ago, the 300-year-old Russian Romanov dynasty came to an end. The paradoxes of the reign of Nicholas II can be explained by the objectively existing contradictions of Russian reality at the beginning of the 20th century, when the world was entering a new phase of its development, and the tsar did not have the will and determination to master the situation. Trying to uphold the "autocratic principle", he maneuvered: either he made small concessions, or he refused them. Surprisingly, the nature of the last king corresponded to the essence of the regime: to avoid change, to maintain the status quo. As a result, the regime rotted, pushing the country to the abyss. Rejecting and hindering the reforms, the last tsar contributed to the beginning of the social revolution, which could not help but carry all the hard things that had accumulated in Russian life over many decades of its trampling and oppression. This should be recognized with absolute sympathy for the terrible fate of the royal family and with a categorical rejection of the crime that was committed against her and other representatives of the Romanov dynasty.
At the critical moment of the February coup, the generals changed their oath and forced the tsar to abdicate. Then, for political reasons, the Provisional Government trampled on the principles of humanism, leaving the abdicated tsar in revolutionary Russia, which overthrew tsarism. And, finally, class interests, as they were understood in the outbreak of civil war, took precedence over moral considerations. The result of all this was the assassination of the emperor
I also consider the fate of the royal remains to be a tragedy of the last Romanovs, which turned out to be not only the subject of detailed research, but also a bargaining chip in the political struggle. The burial of the royal remains, unfortunately, did not become a symbol of repentance, let alone reconciliation. For most, this procedure passed by consciousness. But, nevertheless, their burial was a real step towards the disappearance of the protracted uncertainty of the relationship between today's Russia and its past.
The drama of the Russian Tsar, in all likelihood, is more correctly viewed in the context of world history from the standpoint of its forward movement and the principles of humanism in relation to the human person. Three hundred years ago, the head of the English king rolled onto the chopping block, a hundred years later, the French king, and a hundred and a half later, the Russian king.
9. LIST OF USED LITERATURE
1.#"justify">. Alekseev V. The death of the royal family: myths and reality. (New documents about the tragedy in the Urals). Yekaterinburg, 1993.
The murder of the century: a selection of articles about the murder of the family of Nicholas II. New time. 1998
.#"justify">. Volkov A. Near the royal family. M., 1993.
.#"justify">.http://nnm.ru/blogs/wxyzz/dinastiya_romanovyh_sbornik_knig/
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Candidates
There were many contenders for the Russian throne. The two most unpopular candidates - the Polish prince Vladislav and the son of False Dmitry II - were "weeded out" immediately. The Swedish king's son Karl-Philip had more supporters, among them - the leader of the Zemstvo army, Prince Pozharsky. Why did the patriot of the Russian land opt for a foreign prince? Perhaps the antipathy of the "thin" Pozharsky to domestic applicants - the well-born boyars, who in the Time of Troubles more than once betrayed those to whom they swore allegiance, had an effect. He feared that the “boyar tsar” would sow the seeds of a new unrest in Russia, as happened during the short reign of Vasily Shuisky. Therefore, Prince Dmitry stood for the calling of the "Varangian", but most likely it was Pozharsky's "maneuver", since in the end only Russian applicants, noble princes, participated in the struggle for the royal throne. The head of the infamous "seven boyars" Fyodor Mstislavsky compromised himself by collaborating with the Poles, Ivan Vorotynsky renounced his claim to the throne, Vasily Golitsyn was in Polish captivity, the leaders of the militia Dmitry Trubetskoy and Dmitry Pozharsky did not differ in nobility. But the new king must unite the country split by the Time of Troubles. The question was: how to give preference to one family, so that a new round of boyar civil strife would not begin?
Mikhail Fedorovich did not pass the first round
The candidacy of the Romanovs as the main contenders did not arise by chance: Mikhail Romanov was the nephew of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich. Mikhail's father, Patriarch Filaret, was respected among the clergy and Cossacks. In favor of the candidacy of Mikhail Fedorovich, the boyar Fyodor Sheremetyev actively campaigned. He assured the obstinate boyars that Mikhail "is young and will be familiar to us." In other words, become their puppet. But the boyars did not allow themselves to be persuaded: in the preliminary vote, the candidacy of Mikhail Romanov did not get the required number of votes.
no-show
When Romanov was elected, an overlay arose: the Cathedral demanded the arrival of the young applicant in Moscow. The Romanov party could not allow this: an inexperienced, timid, inexperienced young man in intrigues would have made an unfavorable impression on the delegates of the Council. Sheremetyev and his supporters had to show miracles of eloquence, proving how dangerous the path from the Kostroma village of Domnino, where Mikhail was, to Moscow. Was it not then that the legend about the feat of Ivan Susanin, who saved the life of the future tsar, arose? After a heated debate, the Romanovs succeeded in persuading the Council to cancel the decision on Michael's arrival.
tightening
On February 7, 1613, the rather tired delegates announced a two-week break: “for a large strengthening, they postponed February from the 7th of February to the 21st.” Messengers were sent to the cities "to see through their thoughts in all sorts of people." The voice of the people, of course, is the voice of God, but isn't two weeks not enough to monitor the public opinion of a large country? It is not easy for a messenger to get to Siberia, for example, even in two months. Most likely, the boyars counted on the departure from Moscow of the most active supporters of Mikhail Romanov - the Cossacks. If the stanitsa get bored, they say, to sit idle in the city, they will disperse. The Cossacks really dispersed, so much so that the boyars did not seem a little ...
The role of Pozharsky
Let's return to Pozharsky and his lobbying for the Swedish candidate for the Russian throne. In the autumn of 1612, the militia captured a Swedish spy. Until January 1613, he languished in captivity, but shortly before the beginning of the Zemsky Sobor, Pozharsky freed the spy and sent him to Novgorod occupied by the Swedes with a letter to the commander Jacob Delagardie. In it, Pozharsky reports that both he himself and most of the noble boyars want to see Karl-Philip on the Russian throne. But, as subsequent events showed, Pozharsky misinformed the Swede. One of the first decisions of the Zemsky Sobor was that there should not be a foreigner on the Russian throne, the sovereign should be elected "from Moscow families, which God wills." Was Pozharsky really so naive that he did not know the mood of the majority? Of course not. Prince Dmitry deliberately fooled Delagardie's head with "universal support" for the candidacy of Charles Philip, in order to prevent Swedish interference in the election of the king. The Russians hardly repelled the Polish onslaught, and a campaign against Moscow by the Swedish army could also turn out to be fatal. Pozharsky's "cover operation" was successful: the Swedes did not move. That is why on February 20, Prince Dmitry, having safely forgotten about the Swedish prince, proposed to the Zemsky Sobor to choose a tsar from the Romanov family, and then he put his signature on the conciliar charter on the election of Mikhail Fedorovich. During the coronation of the new sovereign, it was Pozharsky who was given a high honor by Mikhail: the prince presented him with one of the symbols of power - the royal power. Modern political technologists can only envy such a competent PR move: the savior of the Fatherland hands the state to the new tsar. Beautiful. Looking ahead, we note that until his death (1642) Pozharsky faithfully served Mikhail Fedorovich, taking advantage of his unchanging location. It is unlikely that the tsar would have favored someone who wanted to see not him, but some Swedish prince on the throne of the Ruriks.
Cossacks
A special role in the selection of the king belongs to the Cossacks. An interesting story about this is contained in the Tale of the Zemsky Sobor of 1613. It turns out that on February 21 the boyars decided to choose the king by casting lots, but the hope for "maybe", in which any forgery is possible, seriously angered the Cossacks. Cossack orators smashed the boyar "tricks" to smithereens and solemnly proclaimed: "By God's will, in the reigning city of Moscow and all Russia, let there be a tsar, sovereign and grand duke Mikhailo Fedorovich!" This cry was immediately picked up by supporters of the Romanovs, and not only in the Cathedral, but also among the large crowd of people in the square. It was the Cossacks who cut the "Gordian knot", having achieved the election of Mikhail. The unknown author of the “Tale” (probably an eyewitness of what is happening) does not spare colors, describing the reaction of the boyars: “The Bolyar at that time was obsessed with fear and trembling trembling, and their faces were changing with blood, and no one could say anything.” Only Mikhailo's uncle, Ivan Romanov, nicknamed Kasha, who for some reason did not want to see his nephew on the throne, tried to object: "Mikhailo Fedorovich is still young and not in full mind." To which the Cossack wits objected: “But you, Ivan Nikitich, are an old verst, in full mind ... you will be a strong potor to him.” Mikhail did not forget Uncle's assessment of his mental abilities and subsequently removed Ivan Kasha from all state affairs. The Cossack demarche came as a complete surprise to Dmitry Trubetskoy: “His face is black, and falling into an ailment, and lying for many days, without leaving his courtyard from the mountain, that the Cossacks exhausted the treasury and recognized them as flattering in words and deceit.” The prince can be understood: it was he, the leader of the Cossack militia, who counted on the support of his comrades-in-arms, generously endowed them with a "treasury" - and suddenly they were on the side of Mikhail. Perhaps the Romanov party paid more?
British recognition
On February 21 (March 3), 1613, the Zemsky Sobor made a historic decision: to elect Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov to the kingdom. The first country to recognize the new sovereign was England: in the same year, 1613, the embassy of John Metric arrived in Moscow. Thus began the history of the second and last royal dynasty of Russia. It is significant that throughout his reign, Mikhail Fedorovich showed a special attitude towards the British. So, Mikhail Fedorovich restored relations with the British "Moscow Company" after the Time of Troubles, and although he curtailed the freedom of action of English merchants, he nevertheless put them on preferential terms not only with other foreigners, but also with representatives of the Russian "big business".
According to some sources, the Romanovs are not of Russian blood at all, but came from Prussia, according to the historian Veselovsky they are still Novgorodians. The first Romanov appeared as a result of the plexus of childbirth Koshkin-Zakharyin-Yuryev-Shuisky-Rurik in the guise of Mikhail Fedorovich, elected tsar of the Romanov dynasty. The Romanovs, in different interpretations of surnames and names, ruled until 1917.
The Romanov family: a story of life and death - a summary
The era of the Romanovs is a 304-year-old usurpation of power in the expanses of Russia by one boyar family that was born. According to the social classification of the feudal society of the 10th - 17th centuries, the boyars were called large landowners in Moscow Russia. AT 10th - 17th for centuries it was the upper stratum of the ruling class. According to the Danube-Bulgarian origin, "boyar" is translated as "noble". Their history is a time of unrest and an irreconcilable struggle with the kings for complete power.
Exactly 405 years ago, a dynasty of kings of this name appeared. 297 years ago, Peter the Great took the title of All-Russian Emperor. In order not to degenerate by blood, leapfrog began with its mixing along the male and female lines. After Catherine the First and Paul II, the branch of Mikhail Romanov sank into oblivion. But new branches sprang up, mixed with other bloodlines. Fyodor Nikitich, Patriarch of Russia Filaret, also bore the surname Romanov.
In 1913, the tercentenary of the Romanov dynasty was splendidly and solemnly celebrated.
The highest officials of Russia, invited from European countries, did not even suspect that a fire was already warming up under the house, which would burn the ashes of the last emperor and his family in just four years.
In the times under consideration, members of the imperial families did not have surnames. They were called crown princes, grand dukes, princesses. After the Great October Socialist Revolution, which critics of Russia call a terrible coup for the country, its Provisional Government decided that all members of this house should be called Romanovs.
More on the main reigning persons of the Russian state
16-year-old first king. Appointment, election of essentially inexperienced in politics or even young children, grandchildren during the transition of power is nothing new for Russia. Often this was practiced in order for the curators of minor rulers to solve their own tasks before they came of age. In this case, Mikhail the First razed the "Time of Troubles" to the ground, brought peace and brought the almost collapsed country together. Of his ten family offspring, also 16-year-old Tsarevich Alexei (1629 - 1675) succeeded Michael as king.
The first attempt on the Romanovs by relatives. Tsar Theodore the Third dies at the age of twenty. The tsar, who was in poor health (even barely survived the time of the coronation), meanwhile, turned out to be strong in politics, reforms, organization of the army and civil service.
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He forbade foreign tutors who poured from Germany, France to Russia to work without control. Russian historians suspect that the tsar's death was prepared by close relatives, most likely his sister Sophia. What will be discussed below.
Two kings on the throne. Again about the infancy of Russian tsars.
After Fedor, Ivan the Fifth was supposed to take the throne - the ruler, as they wrote, without a king in his head. Therefore, two relatives shared the throne on the same throne - Ivan and his 10-year-old brother Peter. But all state affairs were in charge of the already called Sophia. Peter the Great removed her from her affairs when he found out that she had prepared a state conspiracy against his brother. He sent an intriguer to the monastery to atone for sins.
Tsar Peter the Great becomes a monarch. The one about whom they said that he cut a window to Europe for Russia. Autocrat, military strategist, who finally defeated the Swedes in the wars of twenty years. Titled Emperor of All Russia. The monarchy changed the reign.
The female line of monarchs. Peter, already nicknamed the Great, died in another world, without officially leaving an heir. Therefore, power was transferred to the second wife of Peter, Catherine the First, a German by birth. Rules for only two years - until 1727.
The female line was continued by Anna the First (Peter's niece). During her ten years on the throne, her lover Ernst Biron actually reigned.
The third empress along this line was Elizaveta Petrovna from the family of Peter and Catherine. At first she was not crowned, because she was an illegitimate child. But this grown-up child made the first royal, fortunately, bloodless coup d'état, as a result of which she sat on the All-Russian throne. Eliminating the regent Anna Leopoldovna. It is to her that contemporaries should be grateful, because she returned to St. Petersburg its beauty and significance of the capital.
About the end of the female line. Catherine II the Great, arrived in Russia as Sophia Augusta Frederick. Overthrew the wife of Peter III. Rules for over three decades. Becoming a Romanov record holder, a despot, she strengthened the power of the capital, increasing the country territorially. Continued to improve architecturally the northern capital. Strengthened the economy. Patron, loving woman.
New, bloody, conspiracy. The heir Paul was killed after refusing to abdicate.
Alexander the First entered the government of the country on time. Napoleon went to Russia with the strongest army in Europe. The Russian one was much weaker and bled dry in battles. Napoleon is within easy reach of Moscow. We know from history what happened next. The Emperor of Russia agreed with Prussia, and Napoleon was defeated. The combined troops entered Paris.
Assassination attempts on a successor. They wanted to destroy Alexander II seven times: the liberal did not suit the opposition, which was already ripening then. They blew it up in the Winter Palace of the Emperors in St. Petersburg, shot it in the Summer Garden, even at the world exhibition in Paris. In one year there were three assassination attempts. Alexander II survived.
The sixth and seventh assassination attempts took place almost simultaneously. One terrorist missed, and the Narodnaya Volya Grinevitsky finished the job with a bomb.
The last Romanov is on the throne. Nicholas II was crowned for the first time with his wife, who had previously had five female names. It happened in 1896. On this occasion, they began to distribute the imperial present to those gathered on Khodynka, and thousands of people died in the stampede. The emperor seemed not to notice the tragedy. Which further alienated the bottom from the top and prepared the coup.
The Romanov family - the story of life and death (photo)
In March 1917, under pressure from the masses, Nicholas II terminated his imperial powers in favor of his brother Mikhail. But he was even more cowardly, and refused the throne. And that meant only one thing: the end of the monarchy. At that time, there were 65 people in the Romanov dynasty. Men were shot by the Bolsheviks in a number of cities in the Middle Urals and in St. Petersburg. Forty-seven managed to escape into exile.
The emperor and his family were put on a train and sent to Siberian exile in August 1917. Where all those objectionable to the authorities were driven into severe frosts. The small city of Tobolsk was briefly identified as the place, but it soon became clear that Kolchak’s men could capture them there and use them for their own purposes. Therefore, the train was hastily returned to the Urals, to Yekaterinburg, where the Bolsheviks ruled.
Red terror in action
Members of the imperial family were secretly placed in the basement of a house. The shooting took place there. The emperor, members of his family, assistants were killed. The execution was given a legal basis in the form of a resolution of the Bolshevik Regional Council of Workers', Peasants' and Soldiers' Deputies.
In fact, without a court decision, and it was an illegal action.
A number of historians believe that the Yekaterinburg Bolsheviks received the sanction from Moscow, most likely from the weak-willed All-Russian headman Sverdlov, and maybe personally from Lenin. According to testimony, the people of Yekaterinburg rejected the court hearing because of the possible advance of Admiral Kolchak's troops to the Urals. And this is legally not a repression in retaliation for tsarism, but a murder.
The representative of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation Solovyov, who investigated (1993) the circumstances of the execution of the royal family, argued that neither Sverdlov nor Lenin had anything to do with the execution. Even a fool would not have left such traces, especially the top leaders of the country.
